Wildflowers: Rumex Intermedius
A NOT so Welcome Easter Bunny
Deep in thought with my latest gardening challenges, thrips and leaf miners, I walked towards the garage to check the various potions I had in stock. As I passed the cars I sensed movement in the front garden bed. I froze; we suspect a rat has recently taken up residence in our garden as a... Continue Reading →
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Six on Saturday: Seedlings and Saharan Dust and Gusts
Wow, what a week! I've been gardening in a mask! It's the first time we've been advised of 'poor quality' air alerts. Not only did we enjoy the effect of the Saharan dust from Africa we were also subjected to our own local manmade dust storms. 'They' whoever 'they' maybe, are clearing all the local... Continue Reading →
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Stone Painting: Frog Lily Pad
Although I have decorated stones/pebbles with mosaics, I have only painted them as a fun activity with the grandkids on a rainy day so I was delighted when my sister gave me a pebble painting book and paint pens for my birthday in December. Who knew there were such things as paint pens? When the... Continue Reading →
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Wildflowers: Bartsia Trixago (Bellardia) or flor-de-ouro
This week my search for wildflowers growing in the Western Algarve resulted in finding this little beauty which I discovered purely by accident when I grabbed a wall for support because an owner failed to control her frisky dog. After they left I looked down and there was this beautiful flower! Bartsia trixago The Bartsia... Continue Reading →
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Six On Saturday: Staying One Step Ahead
It's been another busy and challenging week in the garden. We can't go anywhere, do anything or see anyone so the bugs, birds and plants have the pleasure of our undivided attention. 1. Beetroot Blues Only two seeds of the Hullahup beetroot I planted on Feb 22nd have finally germinated Over a month of twice... Continue Reading →
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Ants Are Stealing My Seeds!
Either that or we have a phantom seed thief. I planted Hallahup beetroot seeds in the raised vegetable plot on the 22nd February and Lisbon spring onion seeds on 1st March. So far only three tiny beetroot leaves have germinated and no spring onions. I am suspicious because the spring onion seeds I planted on... Continue Reading →
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Wildflowers – Malcolmia Littorea (Sand Stock)
or Goivinho-da-praia in Portuguese. Malcolmia Littirea grows on the west coast of Portugal and flowers from February to July. I never realised they were related to Virginia Stock which I use to grow in my garden in the UK until I conducted some research to identify them. I seem to remember they had an amazing... Continue Reading →
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Wildflowers: Ophrys Tenthredinifera – Sawfly Orchid
This has to be my favourite wildflower! A friend posted a picture of the wild orchid on our local gardening FB group so the next day I was out taking photographs. Lucky I was wearing trainers because unlike most of the photographs I take of flowers growing near the side of the road, these were... Continue Reading →
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Weekly Smiles – A Jar of Smiles!
I've had a lot to smile about over the last week. The new raised vegetable beds are finished and almost filled with compost. The vegetable seeds are beginning to germinate and I have already replanted many of the tomato seedlings to their own pots to grow on. Who knew sitting in a car park by... Continue Reading →
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Six on Saturday: Creative Gardening – Success and Failures
I started writing my gardening post at seven this morning yet here we are nearly seven in the evening and I am only just finished. We have been extremely busy in the garden this week and the three raised veg beds are almost finished. I will create a separate post to review those later in... Continue Reading →
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Wildflowers: Armeria Pungen, Cravo-das-Areias (Thrift)
There is an abundance of the perennial Cravo-das-Areias also commonly known as 'Thrift' in our local area. The pretty pompom pink flowers can be enjoyed on the many coastal walks in the Western Algarve or where we live, growing on wild areas at the side of the road, or even on our roundabouts. It flowers... Continue Reading →
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Six on Saturday: Spring Flowers and a GM Bug
Another busy week in the garden. Sun, strong winds and showers kept me and the Gnome busy both inside and out. Lots more seeds planted and the cloches are full with pots of Hope and the construction of the raised vegetable beds are nearing completion. Over the weeks I have enjoyed photos shared by fellow... Continue Reading →
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Wildflowers: Lotus Creticus (Southern Bird’s Foot Trefoil)
Lotus Creticus - Southern Bird's Foot Trefoil I have photographed the Southern Bird's Foot Trefoil, also known as the Trevo-de-Creta, in flower from November through to February and it is still flowering into March. It grows in gravel, in the crevices of pathways, and on the cliff tops near our house in the Western Algarve.... Continue Reading →
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Sunday: Hedge Cutters, Blowers and Suckers
All through Saturday the constant revving and whir of hedge cutters from gardeners working at a nearby property drove us mad. However, I am not unreasonable and accept hedges need to be cut and clippings need to be blown into submission and/or sucked. We have a monster Malaleuca hedge which we/aka Gnome manages himself, so... Continue Reading →
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Six on Saturday: Seeds, Salads, Plot and Plans
This week's flown by. The seed order I placed two weeks ago finally arrived on Thursday. All 45 packets of them! The packing list just a glorified till roll receipt presented a challenge in patience as I tried to translate Portuguese to English and then cross-check against my friends' orders, calculate who ordered what and... Continue Reading →
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Weekly Smile: Still Smiling
It can be tough finding a smile when you are 'shielding' locked away from the world. That said when you focus on the positives in life they can far outweigh the negatives as you learn to adapt, develop new skills and appreciate things that a year ago would have passed unnoticed. So I've several smiles... Continue Reading →
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Wildflowers: Acacia longifolia – Mimosa longifolia
Acacia longifolia REF: Acacia longifolia and Plants for a Future Another useful reference to identify plants is The Plant List Do you enjoy taking photographs of wildflowers, bugs, birds, snakes and other curiosities found in the wild? Every Wednesday I will be sharing a photograph of wild flora or fauna in my local area. Who... Continue Reading →
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Six on Saturday: Invasive Weed, Pine Needles, Mystery Muncher and Challenges …
It's been a challenging week. Maybe I should have titled the post: Six Challenges One of the solar Pestbye cat scarers I bought through Amazon Germany and delivered last week has died already! I reported it but as they are having a high volume of traffic it may be some time before I get a... Continue Reading →
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Wildflowers: Narcissus bulbocodium L – Hoop Petticoat Daffodil
Also known as Hoop Petticoat Daffodil: Narcissus bulbocodium L, Campainhas-do-monte, Cuckos. Also found this in the wild Narcissus gaditanus Boiss or Narcissus jonquilla?. ETA: It has since been suggested the above flower could be REF: Narcissus jonquilla or Ref: Narcissus gaditanus Boiss. what do you think? I have just been informed: If this is growing... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 